Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka ranked eighth on the list of cities with the worst air quality on Sunday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 111 at 9:00am.
An AQI score between 101 and 150 is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” meaning children, elderly people and those with respiratory illnesses may experience health effects from prolonged exposure.
According to the AQI index, India’s Delhi topped the list with a score of 193, followed by Santiago in Chile with 177 and Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of the Congo with 163.
Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution caused by construction work, vehicle emissions, industrial activities and dust pollution.
The AQI measures daily air quality and informs people about how clean or polluted the air is and what associated health effects might be a concern.
In Bangladesh, air pollution usually worsens during the dry winter months and improves during the monsoon season.
Health experts advise residents to limit prolonged outdoor activities and use protective masks during periods of poor air quality.